A psalm teaching about creation, declaring the power of God's word, and demanding a response from us. C.S. Lewis considered this the greatest of the Psalms.

v1: Creation is a testimony of God. The immense variety of the created order, in every way, points us back to the creator Himself. Even the beast of the field shall honour God, Is 43.20. Whilst we may refer to 2 Pet 3.10, which speaks of creation to be burned up, the great truth here is that God made all things for His glory; and rightly so. All His works display His character.

Here is revelatory speech, declaring something of the character of God. In Rom 1.20, Paul insists that men are without excuse, for God's invisible attributes are clearly seen in the things that are visible.

v2: Here is consistent speech, day after day, night after night, a never ending testimony.

v3-4: Universal speech, reaching all peoples and all places.

Notice too that the creation is God's creation, it is declared as a fact, Gen 1.1; Ps 33.6; Rom 1.19.

v5-6: The sun in its daily cycle, from which nothing is hidden. The regularity of the sun, its 'support' of human life, provides further evidence of God's hand.

v7-11: Creation cannot teach us everything about God. There is a greater revelation, the Scriptures. These change us and bring us into relationship with God (2 Tim 3.15). Yet the Psalmist declares that both reveal God to us.

The descriptions here are also of the character of God Himself, perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, sure; each one pointing us to Jesus Christ, the Word of God.

Creation is the pagan's Bible, through which he can see something of the true God.

v7: Converting the soul, the perfect work of God; to change us, to bring us into life itself.

Making the simple wise, Ps 119.98-100; here is real wisdom, related to obedience, for wisdom is much more than a wide mental knowledge.

v8: It is right and proper that God's word gives joy to the heart; we are truly blessed, and we rejoice in the truths of God.

Enlightening the eyes; we are enabled to see things differently, and we see unseen spiritual realities, beyond what is visible (Heb11.3).

v9: The pure heart shall see God; no wonder God's word endures forever. We are brought into eternity, experiencing something of heaven now.

True and altogether righteous, Ps 119.160; each part is true and righteous; we have confidence in what God has said. God's ordinances, or judgments, or rulings, describe decisions about conduct, for God's word teaches us how to live.

v10: The word is valuable (objective or intrinsic) and precious (subjective and experienced). The word of God is gold and therefore has value irrespective of whether anyone reads it. But, when we do read it, there is true delight and enjoyment, like honey but better.

The value of the word is far beyond anything in all creation. The word should also be precious to all God's people. 

v11: Two clear benefits of the word of God; warning against wrong doing, and reward for obedience. It is by God's word that we discover what pleases God, and what displeases God; this is a necessary test, not what we prefer.

v12-13: The application of God's word, to keep us holy; Ps 1.1; 119.9,11.

We need to be conscious of personal frailty, and the tendency to submit to temptation.

These words come from a shepherd, having time to consider creation, and God. We find no reference to the 'strivings of my people' or 'my strong enemy' (see Ps 18); as in Psalm 8, there are no references to the experiences and trials of life.

Just as none can escape from the shining sun (v6) so none can hide from the searching of the word of God.

v14: Meditation on the word, Ps 1.2; the cow chewing the cud was a clean animal (Deut 14.6); so the godly person is one who meditates on God's word.

The special blessing, that my words and my thoughts can be acceptable in the sight of God; may He be pleased with me. Meditation in Jewish thought is not silent. Rather it is the outward verbalising of one's inner thoughts, and to articulate in low tones one's wonder, worship and praise to God. (A History of Children, Irene Smale.)